Safeguarding

Through Operation Encompass, our trained staff work closely with the Police in supporting children who may have witnessed or been caught up in Domestic Violence.

What Is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse, also called “domestic violence” or “intimate partner violence”, can be defined as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviours that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, faith or class

Victims of domestic abuse may also include a child or other relative, or any other household member.

Domestic abuse is typically manifested as a pattern of abusive behaviour toward an intimate partner in a dating or family relationship, where the abuser exerts power and control over the victim.

Domestic abuse can be mental, physical, economic or sexual in nature. Incidents are rarely isolated, and usually escalate in frequency and severity. Domestic abuse may culminate in serious physical injury or death.

If you are concerned about Domestic Violence there are many avenues of support and guidance:

– women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support

– talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife

– men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at Men’s Advice Line (Wednesday 10am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm) for non-judgemental information and support

– men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)

– if you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support

– anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit

– in an emergency, call 999

You can also email for support. It is important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address:

– women can email helpline@womensaid.org.uk. Staff will respond to your email within 5 working days

– men can email info@mensadviceline.org.uk

– LGBT+ people can email help@galop.org.uk

The Survivor’s Handbook from the charity Women’s Aid is free and provides information for women on a wide range of issues, such as housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights.

If you are worried that you are abusive, you can contact the free Respect helpline on 0808 802 4040.

Photographs and Videos

Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc and where practical a record of parents and relatives taking photographs or videos is made.

We understand that in exceptional circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way. If this is the case then please contact the headteacher to discuss how this can be best achieved.

Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, then please contact the Headteacher.

As always, should you have any concerns, please report these to Mr Robinson (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or Mrs Davis (Deputy Safeguarding Lead) in his absence. You can do this by telephoning the school number on 01723 859359 or by emailing headteacher@bromptonsawdon.n-yorks.sch.uk / kdavis@bromptonsawdon.n-yorks.sch.uk, or via dojos.

Where there are significant immediate concerns about the safety of a child, please contact the police on 999. If you believe the situation is urgent but does not require the police, please call 01609 780780 to make a telephone contact. The Emergency Duty Team can be reached out of hours on this same number. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the changes taking place in North Yorkshire, from the 1st April 2023 the new number for anyone to make a referral is 0300 131 2 131.

Everyone has a responsibility to refer a child when it is believed or suspected that a child:

– Has suffered significant harm and /or;

– Is likely to suffer significant harm and/or;

– Has developmental and welfare needs which are likely only to be met through provision of family support services (with agreement of the child’s parent)

North Yorkshire Multi Agency Screening Team (MAST) can be contacted via NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

The Local Authority Designated Officer for Safeguarding (LADO) can be contacted on 01609 533080 should you wish to speak to somebody in relation to managing an allegation against a member.